NEW DELHI: Bangladeshi national arrested for allegedly stabbing actor Saif Ali Khan had planned to flee to Bangladesh after he panicked upon seeing his image on news channels, PTI news agency reported citing officials.
The accused, identified as Shariful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir, who had changed his name to Vijay Das, was tracked down following an extensive review of CCTV footage. The footage revealed Fakir riding a motorcycle on January 9, a week before the violent attack on Khan.
Fakir, a resident of Jhalokati, Bangladesh, had been living in Mumbai for over five months and was working in various odd jobs. He allegedly rode a motorcycle on January 9, a week before the violent attack, which was captured by citywide CCTV cameras. The footage played a crucial role in the investigation and led to his identification.
The Mumbai Police faced initial challenges in locating the assailant. Various teams were formed to comb through hours of CCTV footage from different locations across the city. Eventually, a breakthrough came when Fakir’s former employer came forward and confirmed seeing him riding a motorcycle at a crossing in suburban Andheri, a pivotal lead that led to further investigation.
With the help of advanced technology, police traced the suspect’s digital footprint. A payment made by Fakir at a food stall near Century Mill in Worli provided crucial evidence, allowing the authorities to narrow down his location to Thane. A search operation was immediately launched in the area, and Fakir was found lying in a dense mangrove area near a labour camp at Hiranandani Estate.
On January 14, Saif Ali Khan was brutally stabbed by an intruder inside his upscale apartment at the ‘Satguru Sharan’ building in Bandra. The attack required immediate surgery, raising concerns about the security of the actor’s residence and the motivations behind such a shocking assault.
